Thermostatic control device



July 9, 1940.

E. F. KURTZ 2,207,462

THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed DGO. ll, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lill/u..." 57

July 9, 1940. E, 1:I KURTZ 2,207,462

` THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Dec. ll, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 af' f3 I grrr' l//// Patented `uly 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERMOSTATIC CONTROL DEVICE Edward F. Kurtz, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to Metals & Controls Corporation, Attleb'oro,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to thermostatic control devices, and with regard to certain more specific features, to thermostatic electric switches, thermostatic valves, and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted .the provision of a thermostatic control device in which an automatic control action is provided upon the achievement of a predetermined temperature in one direction, but which device is required to be manually reset before it will occasion any further automatic action; the provision of a thermostatic device of the class described which, upon being subjected to an excessive temperature, performs a control l5 action, such as the breaking of an electric cir-" cuit, but which device requires to be manually actuated before it will perform the reverse control action, such as the resumption of electrical connections; the provision of an electric cigar lighter embodying a thermostatic control of the type mentioned, which cigar lighter is thereby adapted automatically to cut itself out of an electrical heating circuit when its heating element has been brought to a proper temperature, but which cigar lighter requires manually to be actuated in a particular manner-before it will again operate; the provision of a thermostatic control device in the -form of a thermostatic valve, which valve is adapted automatically to close upon -attainment of a certain temperature, but which valve will not thereafter reopen without manual actuation thereof; and the provision of a thermostatic control device of the class described which is relatively simple in construc- 5 tion and operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the vfollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are P illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a thermostatic control device, in the form of a cigar lighter, embodying the present invention;

0 Fig. 2 is an axial section of the cigar lighter of Fig. 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections taken substantially along lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary axial sections showing certain of the elements of the Fig. 2 device in alternative positions;

Fig. 8 is an axial cross section of a valve embodying a thermostatic control device in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section of a fragment of an alternative structure.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

While the thermostatic control device of the present invention is of general utility in connection with electric switches, valves and like mechanisms, it can best be described in relation to its application to a particular article that is to be controlled. For this purpose, an electric cigar lighter has been chosen for the principal illustrative embodiment of the present invention. However, it will readily be understood that the invention applies to any and all forms of controlled devices, and that the cigar lighter is merely illustrative of such devices.

In Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the invention is shown in its application to a cigar lighter of the type frequentlyfound in automobiles, for example. Numeral I (Figures 1 and 2), for example, indicates the dashboard of the automobile, and numeral 3 indicates a cylindrical cup or socket that is mounted in said dashboard I. 'I'he cup or socket 3 is preferably closed at its inner end, as indicated at numeral 5, although this is not a necessary provision. Fitting snugly within the vcylindrical socket 3 is the body 'l of the cigar lighter proper, which is usually molded or other- Wise formed from a thermoplastic material, such as Bakelite, that has a relatively high resistance to heat. 'I'he lbody 1 is cylindrical in shape, so that it slips lightly into the socket 3. At its projecting end, the body 'l is advantageously provided with a handle 9 that may take the form of a knob. At its inner end the body 'l is reduced in diameter, as indicated at numeral II, for purposes hereinafter to be explained. The inner end of the body 'l is also hollowed out to provide a cylindrical chamber indicated generally by numeral I3, for enclosing operating mechanism presently to =be described. At its outermost end, the walls of the chamber I3 are suitably threaded to receive the oppositely threaded rim portion I5 of a coiled heater element I1, which is a customary provision in cigar lighters of this general type. The heater element I'l is ordinarily in the form of a spirally coiled ribbon of high resistance metal, such as Nichrome.

'Ihe chamber I3 inwardly terminates as two regions I9 and 2l of progressively decreasing diameter. A shoulder 23 joins the portion I9 to the chamber I3 proper, while a shoulder 25 joins the portion I9 to the portion 21|. The purposes of these shoulders will be made more apparent hereinafter.

The body 1 is drilled from end to end (connecting with the chamber portion 2I), to receive a plunger rod 21 with a slip fit. The plunger rod 21 extends from in front of the knob 9 rearwardly into the chamber region 2l.

Mounted on the shoulder 25 by means of screws 29 (see Fig. 4) are a pair of semi-circular, or more properly speaking semi-annular, contact plates 3I and 33. The inner edges of these plates considerably overlap the shoulder 25, so that they project over and partially cover the chamber region 2I. The plates 3I and 33 are electrically insulated from each other except when they are connected together by means to be described.

Mounted on the inner end of plunger rod 21 is a contact plate 35, which is preferably spaced by a washer 31 from the end of the plunger rod 21. The contact plate 35 is of such size that it is adapted lto bridge across between the contact plates 3l and 33, to connect them together, when the plunger rod 21 is suitably advanced into the body 1.

Numeral 39 indicates a contact ring that is preferably molded into the outer surface of body 1, in such manner as to project slightly therefrom. The ring 39 fits tightly against the casing or socket member 3, and makes electrical connections therewith as one of the external connections to the cigar lighter. Numeral 4I indicates a hole that is drilled through the body 1 in order to accommodate a wire 43 that connects the ring 39 electrically to the lower contact plate 33.

Also molded into the reduced end portion II of the body 1 in such manner as to project slightly therefrom is a second connecting ring indicated by numeral 45. In order to make external electrical connections to the ring 45, a spring brush or contacting element 41 is mounted in the walls of socket 3, suitable insulating washers 49 and a terminal piece 5I kbeing provided for exterior connections. A hole 53 in the body 1 provides room for a wire 55 which connects the ring 45 to one end of the heating coil I1. The other end of the heating coil I1 is electrically connected by a wire 51, which lies in an axial slot 59 provided in the wall of chamber I3, to the contact plate 3l.

Resting against the shoulder 23, and secured there by a snap ring 6I fitted in a suitable groove in the walls of chamber I3,l are preferably a pair of snap-acting discs 63 and 65. Both the discs 63 and 65 are of a dished nature, and are capable of being snapped into oppositely dished positions. The disc 63 is preferably made of a spring metal, such as steel or spring brass, but the disc 65 is made of composite thermostatic metal, or bi-metal, and thus is in accordance with the disclosure of Spencer Patent 1,448,240. While the rims or outer peripheries of the discs 63 and 65 are confined between the snap ring 6I and the shoulder 23, this confinement is not binding, but is of a relatively loose sort permitting both discs freely to snap between their positions of opposite concavity. It is understood, of course, that instead of disc 63, any overcenter spring may be used; and instead of disc 65, other types of thermal elements may be used.

The central portion of disc 63 is connected by a machine screw lI1 to the inner end of plunger rod 21. Suitable flanges on the end of screw 61 provide that the plunger rod 21 will always follow said disc 63 in its movement.

A characteristic of the spring disc 63 is that it will remain in either position of concavity in which it is placed. That is to say, it is perfectly stable in either of its two opposite positions of concavity. In the case of the thermostatic disc 65, however, for a given temperature condition, the disc has but one stable position of concavity. For a relatively cold temperature, that is, any temperature below a predetermined temperature, the thermostatic disc 65 is concave in the direction shown in Fig. 2, that is, presenting its concave face towards the front of the body 1. At any temperature above the predetermined temperature, however, the thermostatic disc 65 automatically reverses its curvature to the position shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, it is concave toward the rear of the plug 1.

The operation of the cigar lighter as thus described is as follows:

External electrical connections are made to the device through the terminal piece I, and through the socket 3, the latter of which is ordinarily a ground connection. As heretofore explained, the exterior connection to terminal piece 5I is transmitted, through brush 41, to the ring 45, and then in turn through wire 55 to the heating element I1. The other end of the heating element I1 is in a normally open-circuit connection with ring 39, through wire 51, contact plate 3|, contact plate 33, and wire 43.

In its ordinary, non-operating condition as mounted on the dashboard I, the various elements, including particularly the discs 63 and 65 and the plunger rod 21, are all in the position shown in Fig. 2. To electrically actuate the heating element I1 from this position, the operator first pushes the plunger 21 inwardly into the body 1, preferably without disturbing the condition of the body 1 in the socket 3. The inward motion of the plunger 21 is transmitted by the screw 61 to the spring disc 63, and this disc is thus overcentered to its position of reverse curvature, as shown in Fig. 6. The contact plate 35 is thus brought into bridging position and held in engagement under tension from disc 63, across the plates 3I and 33, and the electrical circuit is thus completed to the heater I1. The heater I1 thereupon commences to heat.

Radiant heat from the heater I1 then commences to heat the thermostatic disc 65. By selecting the disc 65 so that it has the proper temperature response characteristics, the heater I1 will have come to a suitably heated condition (for cigar or cigarette lighting purposes) just as the snapping temperature of the disc 65 is reached. When said snapping temperature is reached, the disc 65 will suddenly automatically overcenter to its position of reverse curvature, and in so doing, it will forcibly overcenter the spring disc 63 back to its original position, all

as indicated in Fig. '1. This motion of the springv disc 63 will in turn be transmitted by the screw 61 to the plunger 21, the end of which will thus be forced out from the handle 9 of the plug 1. By making the plunger rod 21 and handle 9 of contrasting colors, the reappearance of the end of the plunger rod will serve as a signal to the user of the lighter that it is properly heated and in condition for use. By the same motion, the

contact bridging plate 35 is withdrawn from .its 75 connecting position across the plates 3| and 33 and the electrical circuit to the heater |1 i's' thereby broken.

Thereupon the operator may grasp the handle 9 and remove the body 1 from the socket 3 and use it for cigar or cigarette lighting purposes in the customary manner. Or, if in the meanwhile the user has decided not to use the device, or has forgotten that he initially actuated it, the element |1 will cool without danger of its becoming overheated or of its continually using up current from the battery.

As the heating element |1 cools, it permits the thermostatic disc 65 also to cool, and when the temperature becomes low enough, said thermostatic element 65 automatically snaps back to its initial position, as indicated in Fig. 2, but Without thereby causing a resetting of the spring disc 53. Before said spring disc may be again overcentered, a manual pushing of the plunger rod 21 is needed, in the manner heretofore described'.

It is thus seen that in the present invention. a cigar vlighter is provided which is semi-automatic in its operation, in the proper manner for the safety factors involved. That is to say, the lighter can be manually actuated in order to commence its heating, and when it achieves its proper temperature, it will automatically electrically vdisconnect itself from the heating current and will remain disconnected until it is again manually actuated to connecting position. This arrangement makes for maximum safety in the operation of the lighter, and in addition provides against wastage of the current.

As has heretofore been intimated, the principles of the present invention are applicable to many devices other than cigar lighters. For example, the basic principles of the invention may be applied to any electrical switching mechanism wherein it is desired that one set of circuit conditions can be achieved only by a manual actuation but wherein automatic change of the manually achieved circuit condition to another circuit condition is a desideratum. To this end, it may be said that the functional parts of the device comprise the spring disc 63 and the thermostatic disc 65, the means by which they are mounted in abutting relation, and the manually operated actuating means for the spring disc 63.

The principles of the present invention also nd application in devices other than thermostatic electric switches. Fig. 8, for example, shows how the invention may be embodied in a valve device. Referring now more particularly with Fig. 8, numeral 8| indicates a valve body that is provided with an inlet 83 and an outlet 85. A complementary body portion 81 is secured to the body 8|, with an interposed gasket 89, by means of bolts 9|. The body portion 81 is provided with an interior valve chamber 93, and is closed by a suitably gasketed cover 95. A rst passage 81 leads from the chamber 93 to the face of the body portion 81, where it meets With a suitable opening in the gasket 89. The body portion 8| is provided with a companion passage 99, connected to the inlet 83. A second passage |0| in the body portion 81 similarly leads to and connects with, through a suitable opening in the gasket 89, a companion passage |03 in the body portion 8 i, which connects to the valve outlet 85.

The inner end of the opening 91 constitutes a valve seat indicated by numeral |05, against which reciprocably seats a valve closure element vor head |01 that has a cylindrical portion |09 sliding in a suitable opening in the cover 95. This opening is preferably' provided with a back-seating valve seat also cooperating with the valve head 01, so that leakage through said opening is avoided. The valve stem |09 is continued as a threaded portion ||3. Numerals ||5 indicate a plurality of posts or mounting columns that extend upwardly from the cover 95, and are held in position by screws ||1. Each of the posts H5 is provided with a pair of annular grooves or slots ||9 and |2|. The grooves ||9 all serve to support the periphery of a, spring snap-acting disc 23, which is analogous to the spring disc 63 of the first embodiment, while the grooves |2| all serve to support a composite thermostatic metal snap-acting disc |25 analogous to the thermostatic snap-acting disc 65 of the rst embodiment. At their outer ends, the posts 5 are strengthened and secured in position by means of a ring |21 and screws |29.

Numeral |3| indicates a hub element that is threaded on to the end H3 of the valve stem |09. A lock nut |33 is also preferably provided to secure the hub 3| in position. The hub I3! passes through a suitable opening in the center of disc |23, and a washer or collar |34 is fitted tightly in position on the hub |3| in order that the central portion of disc |23 may thus be tied in to move with the valve stem |09 in both directions. 'Ihe outer ends of the hub element |3| and collar |34 constitute an abutment against the surface of the central portion of thermostatic disc 25, which, in the embodiment shown, is not drilled or otherwise open.

Threaded into a suitable opening |35 in the said body portion 8| is a cylindrical element |31, which is arranged to be coaxial with the valve stem |09. The cylindrical element |31 receives a reciprocable pin |39, which has a head or handle |4| available for manipulation at the front of the device. A compression spring |43 maintains the head |4| normally in extended position, as indicated in Fig. 8. The plunger |39 is prevented from leaving the cylindrical element |31 by means of a flanged pin |45 that is axially threaded into the inner end of said plunger |39. The pin |45 has an extension |41 that passes across the opening in gasket 89, and into the passage 91 in body portion 81, for manipulative purposes to be described.

Other mechanical features of the valve will be apparent on inspection of Fig. 8, without further description thereof.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is basically quite similar to that of the embodiment previously described. In the position shown in Fig. 8, for example, it will be seen that the closure element |01 is lifted from the valve seat |05, and hence fluid can ow from the inlet 83 through the passages 99 and 91 to the chamber 93 and then out through the passages |0| and |03 to the outlet 85.

The device is so mounted that the thermostatic disc |25 is subjected to an ambient temperature which it is desired to control. In the position shown in Fig. 8, the thermostatic .disc |25 is in its relatively cold position for normal operation, although if it is` desired to cut off the fiow of fluid through the valve upon the attainment of a given cold temperature, rather than a given hot temperature, the device may be arranged in such manner that Fig. 8 represents the hot position of the thermostatic disc |25. However, in normal operation, Fig. 8 is considered as representing the cold position of the disc |25. When the predetermined snapping temperature of the disc |25 is reached, it will reverse its curvature from the Fig. 8 position, and in so doing (through itsv abutment on the hub |3| and collar |34), it will reverse the curvature of spring disc |23 and thus cause the valve stem |09 to slide inwardly into the cover 95. The valve closure element |01 is thus brought to seat firmly on the valve seat |05, and communication between the inlet 83 and the outlet 85 is thereby cut oi.

If the external temperature to which the disc |25 is subjected now drops below a suitable predetermined temperature, the disc |25 will snap back to its Fig. 8 position, but in so doing it will not carry with it the disc |23, nor will it thereby open the valve. Opening of the valve can be accomplished only by the manual operation of pressing the handle |4| against the spring |43, to bring the pin |41 to bear on the end of valve closure element |01 and thus manually overcenter the spring disc |23. .Upon such manual operation, the device becomes set or cocked, as it were, for further automatic operation under control of the thermostatic disc |25.

It will therefore be seen that, basically, the operation of the valve embodiment of Fig. 8 is similar in most respects to the operation of the electric switch embodiment of Fig. 2.

The control device of the present invention may similarly be designed into and incorporated in many other types of devices wherein a temperature control action is desired, as heretofore described.

Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that has the plunger rod 21 trip-free of the switch, but is otherwise like the Fig. 2 embodiment. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that contact plate 35 is fastened to rod 61 by means of an abutment |50 and a nut ISI. The nut |5| threads on a suitably threaded portion of rod 61. Disc 63 is fastened to the end of rod 61 by means of an abutment |48 and a nut |49, the nut |49 being screwed down tightly against a suitable shoulder at the end of the rod 61 so as to allow disc 63 to move relatively freely on this end.

The other end of rod 61 fits into hole |52 drilled or molded in the inner end of plunger rod 21. This same inner end of rod 21 is provided with a projecting end or abutment |53 which prevents plunger rod 21 from being pulled out of the lighter. The innermost end, |54, of plunger rod 21, pushes against the contact plate assembly 35 and forces rod 61 toward the left in the direction of the contact plates 3| and 33. The spacing between the rod 61 and the plunger rod 21 is so arranged that when the-outerendof rod 21 is flush with the end of the lighter, disc 63 has been carried just past its overcenter position, but the contact plate 35 has not made contact with the plates 3| and 33. The overcenter action of disc 63 then carries plate 35 into firm bridging position across plates 3| and 33. A spacer ring |55 is provided between the discs 63 and 65 to allow disc 65 to start its travel before it touches disc 63; and thus any inherent creep movement of disc 65 is taken care of before disc 63 moves and the contacts break. Spacer |55 should be thicker than nut |49 by the amount of free travel that is desired before disc 65 hits disc 63.

When disc 65 heats up, it snaps to the right in the manner hitherto described and forces disc 63 back past its over center position and consequently breaks contact across plates 3| and 33. If now plunger 21 is held in its innermost position, that is, with its outer end flush with the end of the cigar lighter, there is still room for disc 65 to snap disc 63 back far enough to break contact. In case such should occur, the resulting action of the cigar lighter would be for disc 65 to snap over, push disc 63 over and thus break contact, cool down, allow disc 63 to pull contact plate 35 into bridging position again, and then this cycle would be repeated. In other words, by making the actuating mechanism trip-free of the plunger 21, the danger of having the heater of the lighter overheat and burn out, is eliminated.

In'view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A thermostatic control comprising a composite thermostatic metal plate having two oppositely-facing positions of concavity between which it automatically snaps in response to temperature changes, means mounting said thermostatic plate at one portion thereof leaving another portion thereof free to undergo said snap movement, a resilient plate of a shape substantially the same as that of the thermostatic plate, having two oppositely facing positions of concavity between which it snaps when suitably actuated by imposed forces, said resilient plate being mounted in' said mounting means in such manner that said thermostatic plate is capable, when automatically snapping in one direction, of bearing on the movable portion of said resilient plate to snap it in the same direction, said thermostatic plate, however, being incapable of snapping the resilient plate in the other direction, and means mounted in said mounting means and secured to said resilient plate manually actuatable to snap said resilient plate in the direction in which said thermostatic plate is incapable of snapping it.

2. A thermostatic control comprising a composite thermostatic metal plate having two oppositely-facing positions of concavity between which it automatically snaps in response to temperature changes, means mounting said, thermostatic plate at one portion thereof leaving another portion thereof free to undergo said snap movement, a resilient plate of a shape substantially the same as that of the thermostatic plate, llaving two oppositely-facing positions of concavity between which it snaps when suitably actuated by imposed forces, said resilient plate being mounted in said mounting means in such manner that said thermostatic plate is capable, when automatically snapping in one direction, of bearing on the movable portion of said resilient plate to snap it in the same direction, said thermostatic plate, however, being incapable of snapping -the resilient plate in the other direction, and means mounted in said mounting means and secured to said resilient plate manually actuatable to snap said resilient plate in the direction in which said thermostatic plate is incapable of snapping it, said resilient and thermostatic plates being concentrically mounted in a parallel manner.

3. A thermostatic control comprising a cornposite thermostatic metal plate having two oppositely-facing positions of concavity between which it automatically snaps in response to temperature changes, means mounting said thermostatic plate at one portion thereof leaving another portion thereof free to undergo said snap movement, a resilient plate of a shape substantially the same as that of the thermostatic plate, having two oppositely-facing positions of concavity between Which it snaps when suitably actuated by imposed forces, said resilient plate being mounted in said mounting means in such manner that 0 said thermostatic plate is capable, when automatically snapping in one direction, of bearing on the movable portion of said resilient plate to snap it in the same direction, said thermostatic plate, however, being incapable of snapping the resilient plate in the other direction, a control element actuated by said resilient plate, and means mounted in said mounting means and secured to said resilient plate manually actuatable to snap said resilient plate in the direction in which said thermostatic plate is incapable of snapping it. Y

EDWARD F. KURTZ. 

